The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG—Plenty of new Waitsburg business owners attended the regular Waitsburg City Council meeting last Wednesday. Recently sold buildings along Main Street, include the former Anchor Bar and the Whoopem Up Hollow Cafe.

Tom and Judy Bennett purchased the former Anchor Bar at 128 Main and attended the meeting to introduce themselves to the council. Bennett said the couple had received a very warm welcome from community members since purchasing the building earlier this month.

Mauro and Connie Golvani who recently purchased the former Whoopem Up Hollow Cafe at 120 Main Streeet, also introduced themselves.

Cameron and Angelica Hedges also attended the meeting. Hedges is the new pastor at Waitsburg Christian Church on Main Street.

Gary Hofer approached the council about an ongoing waterline leak that had upped his water bill by hundreds of dollars and cost him thousands in improvement and replacement efforts. Hofer explained that the leak was discovered to be in the waterline underneath the Coppei Creek near his home on the southern edge of Waitsburg.

Hofer explained that the waterline was installed in 2005, following bridge repair that same year. He said that he was not given an opportunity to provide feedback about the waterline placement when it was installed. Hofer noticed the issue a couple of years ago and had been fighting rising water bills since.

He said that he closed a shutoff valve in his yard to try and figure out where the leak was coming from in June of 2019, working with a private plumber and Public Works Director Jim Lynch. Work on locating the leak had been delayed due to the narrow window naturally provided when the creek dries up.

“Randy stepped up to the plate and got this done,” Hofer said. “I want to say thank you for that.”

Efforts to repair the line have included investigative work by the city’s Public Works department, plumber evaluations, and leak detection efforts by American Leak Detection. The council will consult the city’s legal services and consider ways to help compensate Hofer for the high-water bills, often reaching over $350, caused by the city’s faulty water line. Hofer provided a detailed letter in the council packet.

The council approved the first payment, for $72,707.20, to Don Jackson Excavation for work along the Coppei Creek Dike. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe reported that work along the dike stretched from the city’s property boundary to the bridge that turns into Highway 12 at the southern end of town. It also included work done at the bridge on West 7th Street.

Hinchliffe said the work included bringing the existing dike back a bit and pushed a corner near the city’s property boundary back to help realign the riverbed and make high water flow more manageable. Hinchliffe said this area had a history of flowing into the neighboring field a “little more than it should,” and the realignment should help lessen this for future events. Other work included tree removal, rip rap placement, adding height to areas of the dike, and widening the dike in other areas.

Hinchliffe said that high-water events had scoured the banks near the bridge on West 7th Street, near the home of Mike Ferrians. Work at the bridge included the removal of trees and snags, and rip rap placement. The City of Waitsburg provided much of the rip rap material.

Councilmember Jillian Henze commented that residents adjacent to the worksite had been supportive, despite the equipment and the noise. Hinchliffe said plans are being developed to replant vegetation, including willow trees, along the banks near West 7th to help restore and strengthen the area.

Hinchliffe said that the utility tax that was implemented earlier this year helped cover the costs of the project.

Hinchliffe said that he was contacted about American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that are designated for libraries. The City of Waitsburg is set to receive $6,308.00 in funds through the Library Services and Technology Act Grant Agreement, which will be used to purchase new computers and other technology for the Weller Public Library.

The Weller Public Library Board of Trustees appointed new members to staggered terms. Jim Leid, chairman, will serve a one-year term. Mike Hubbard, vice chairman, will serve a two-year term. Sherri Erikson will serve for three years. Marie Gagnon will serve for four years, and Terry Lawhead will serve for five years. The council approved the board as presented.

Marie Gagnon spoke to the council at the meeting, sharing some concerns and needs related to the library. She said that the board voted unanimously to keep the Weller Public Library at its current location. The board also voted to abandon the idea of joining a rural library district.

Gagnon said the rear exit of the library is currently blocked by a large amount of pipe stored by the city. She asked that the city clear the area as it poses a safety hazard.

“Our library currently has only one entrance and exit, and that is the door on Main Street,” Gagnon said. “If we have kids in the building, they are usually in the backroom, where the little hangout is. If there is a problem on Main Street, or if there is a fire in the building, there is no exit out back.”

The Board of Trustees requested that the pipes be removed immediately. The pipes have been stored in the area for at least 25 years, Gagnon shared. Kate Hockersmith added that the council had been approached roughly 20 years ago about removing the pipes, but it is unclear why the pipes were not moved and why the council has not been approached since.

She also shared that the rear garage door is too heavy for a child to open in the event of an emergency, and the locking mechanisms are insufficient. Hinchliffe and the council said they will remove the pipes and bringing the rear exit up to a satisfactory, safe state.

The council approved Rebecca Wilson to fill a vacant seat on the Planning Commission, filling the seat left by Jillian Henze, who was appointed to fill an empty council seat earlier this year.

Councilmember Karen Gregutt reported that the Planning Commission is in the early discussion with the owner of the Wheatland Drive subdivision, located between West 2nd and West 3rd streets, and another property owner about potential boundry changes to their properties. She said newly appointed commission member Becky Wilson attended the meeting.

Council member Jim Romine shared that the Community Health and Protection committee met to discuss the fire department, the recent vaccination mandate affecting paid and volunteer first responders, and the potential impact it may have on services available to Waitsurg. He said the committee also discussed the impact that lack of snow removal may have on emergency vehicles this winter. They also discussed the lack of compliance amongst local businesses concerning the mask mandate. Kate Hockersmith added that Waitsburg had 17 new COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, with Romine adding that he was aware of unreported cases. He said that he hopes something will change soon for the sake of keeping schools open.

The mayor and councilmember Kevin House gave no reports at this meeting.